Scottish Executive

Construction Industry

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to launch a licensing registration scheme for the construction industry.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish construction trade associations have developed a self-regulation scheme run by the Construction Licensing Executive (CLE), with support from Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, which aims to protect domestic consumers and raise industry standards.

Crofting

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that crofters do not need to decroft their house site in order to obtain a mortgage to comply with the new crofter housing grant scheme.

Allan Wilson: We do not believe that the new croft housing scheme will have a significant impact on rates of decrofting.

Education

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage literacy rate was for people aged 15 or over in each year since 1999, calculated on the same basis as the World Health Organization’s European health for all database.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally.

Environment

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages the Hannah Institute having in the Executive’s "Smart, Successful Scotland" strategy.

Allan Wilson: A Smart, Successful Scotland recognises the importance of high quality research and development activities. The Scottish research community has a valuable role to play in producing high quality research and ensuring its commercial potential is exploited.

  The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department is currently considering responses to the consultation on the draft strategy for agriculture, biological and related research which includes those objectives.

Environment

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which agencies are involved in securing the protection of areas of land that are habitats to rare plants or animal species.

Allan Wilson: Scottish Natural Heritage has primary responsibility for promoting and securing the protection of land that provides habitat for rare plants and animal species in Scotland.

  A wide range of other bodies exercise responsibilities which require them to have regard to natural heritage objectives in relation to the conservation and management of land.

Fishing

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water still provides concessionary fishing permits for pensioners and people with disabilities.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases were marked "no proceedings" in each procurator fiscal office in each of the last five years, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of cases dealt with by each office.

Colin Boyd QC: The figures given under "Total Reports Received" relate to all reports received by procurators fiscal and include criminal reports, complaints against the police and reports of sudden deaths.

  The figures show that the number of cases marked "no proceedings" by all offices was stable at 15% in each of the years prior to 2002/03 when 51,133 (17%) of cases were marked "no proceedings". This increase was caused by a rise in the number of cases marked "no proceedings" because of a delay by the police or other reporting agency in submitting the case to the procurator fiscal. The rise occurred mainly in procurator’s fiscal offices in the Strathclyde, Lothian and Borders, Fife and Central police areas.

  The number of cases marked "no proceedings" dropped to 43,702 (13%) in 2003-04.

  Cases can be marked "no proceedings" by procurators fiscal for a number of reasons including a lack of sufficient admissible evidence, mitigating circumstances, lack of jurisdiction over the offence, the fact that the suspected offence is not a crime or that a civil remedy is more appropriate than criminal proceedings.

  

 FY 2003-04
 Total Reports Received
 Total - No Proceedings
 No Pro as % of Total


 Aberdeen
 13,257
 717
 5%


 Airdrie
 16,064
 3,103
 19%


 Alloa
 2,941
 439
 15%


 Arbroath
 4,007
 594
 15%


 Ayr
 8,802
 876
 10%


 Banff
 1,235
 185
 15%


 Campbeltown
 697
 44
 6%


 Cupar
 2,034
 419
 21%


 Dingwall
 1,511
 155
 10%


 Dornoch
 386
 66
 17%


 Dumbarton
 9,355
 1,194
 13%


 Dumfries
 6,559
 697
 11%


 Dundee
 14,395
 2,140
 15%


 Dunfermline
 7,488
 973
 13%


 Dunoon
 1,459
 250
 17%


 Duns
 1,058
 81
 8%


 Edinburgh
 25,830
 5,216
 20%


 Elgin
 3,005
 456
 15%


 Falkirk
 9,682
 2,198
 23%


 Forfar
 2,910
 241
 8%


 Fort William
 1,251
 185
 15%


 Glasgow
 77,603
 9,512
 12%


 Greenock
 5,192
 752
 14%


 Haddington
 2,563
 415
 16%


 Hamilton
 22,140
 2,765
 12%


 Inverness
 7,235
 886
 12%


 Jedburgh
 1,694
 178
 11%


 Kilmarnock
 14,373
 1,922
 13%


 Kirkcaldy
 9,001
 1,409
 16%


 Kirkcudbright
 1,058
 109
 10%


 Kirkwall
 500
 56
 11%


 Lanark
 3,550
 240
 7%


 Lerwick
 713
 63
 9%


 Linlithgow
 7,228
 962
 13%


 Lochmaddy
 162
 35
 22%


 Oban
 1,188
 150
 13%


 Paisley
 11,275
 914
 8%


 Peebles
 419
 80
 19%


 Perth
 8,331
 1,029
 12%


 Peterhead
 1,653
 174
 11%


 Portree
 463
 41
 9%


 Rothesay
 303
 67
 22%


 Selkirk
 1,863
 360
 19%


 Stirling
 6,123
 609
 10%


 Stonehaven
 1,275
 96
 8%


 Stornoway
 727
 61
 8%


 Stranraer
 2,284
 221
 10%


 Tain
 1,437
 182
 13%


 Wick
 1,182
 185
 16%


 PFS
 325,461
 43,702
 13%



  

 FY 2002-03
 Total Reports Received
 Total - No Proceedings
 No Pro as % of Total


 Aberdeen
  13,526 
  1,274 
 9%


 Airdrie
  13,927 
  3,683 
 26%


 Alloa
  2,850 
  511 
 18%


 Arbroath
  3,672 
  249 
 7%


 Ayr
  8,662 
  868 
 10%


 Banff
  1,319 
  267 
 20%


 Campbeltown
  667 
  44 
 7%


 Cupar
  2,098 
  459 
 22%


 Dingwall
  1,457 
  121 
 8%


 Dornoch
  425 
  48 
 11%


 Dumbarton
  8,098 
  1,194 
 15%


 Dumfries
  5,351 
  464 
 9%


 Dundee
  11,666 
  1,093 
 9%


 Dunfermline
  6,602 
  1,050 
 16%


 Dunoon
  1,238 
  185 
 15%


 Duns
  1,053 
  78 
 7%


 Edinburgh
  25,801 
  5,110 
 20%


 Elgin
  3,145 
  476 
 15%


 Falkirk
  8,979 
  1,671 
 19%


 Forfar
  2,594 
  266 
 10%


 Fort William
  1,099 
  148 
 13%


 Glasgow
  75,277 
  16,750 
 22%


 Greenock
  5,558 
  700 
 13%


 Haddington
  2,567 
  221 
 9%


 Hamilton
  21,973 
  2,895 
 13%


 Inverness
  6,956 
  913 
 13%


 Jedburgh
  1,721 
  172 
 10%


 Kilmarnock
  12,047 
  2,075 
 17%


 Kirkcaldy
  8,800 
  1,768 
 20%


 Kirkcudbright
  958 
  108 
 11%


 Kirkwall
  450 
  45 
 10%


 Lanark
  3,324 
  309 
 9%


 Lerwick
  546 
  48 
 9%


 Linlithgow
  7,512 
  1,490 
 20%


 Lochmaddy
  273 
  31 
 11%


 Oban
  1,043 
  158 
 15%


 Paisley
  11,043 
  1,607 
 15%


 Peebles
  387 
  60 
 16%


 Perth
  7,263 
  657 
 9%


 Peterhead
  1,576 
  118 
 7%


 Portree
  246 
  18 
 7%


 Rothesay
  318 
  52 
 16%


 Selkirk
  1,860 
  252 
 14%


 Stirling
  5,745 
  698 
 12%


 Stonehaven
  1,292 
  74 
 6%


 Stornoway
  629 
  52 
 8%


 Stranraer
  2,165 
  268 
 12%


 Tain
  1,384 
  175 
 13%


 Wick
  1,113 
  160 
 14%


 PFS
  308,255 
  51,133 
 17%



  

 FY 2001-02
 Total Reports Received
 Total - No Proceedings
 No Pro as % of Total


 Aberdeen
  12,475 
  1,269 
 10%


 Airdrie
  7,931 
  1,225 
 15%


 Alloa
  2,562 
  473 
 18%


 Arbroath
  2,949 
  184 
 6%


 Ayr
  7,697 
  858 
 11%


 Banff
  1,475 
  199 
 13%


 Campbeltown
  484 
  36 
 7%


 Cupar
  1,748 
  353 
 20%


 Dingwall
  1,502 
  148 
 10%


 Dornoch
  321 
  47 
 15%


 Dumbarton
  8,826 
  1,563 
 18%


 Dumfries
  5,556 
  862 
 16%


 Dundee
  9,957 
  911 
 9%


 Dunfermline
  5,604 
  1,081 
 19%


 Dunoon
  1,128 
  212 
 19%


 Duns
  1,077 
  88 
 8%


 Edinburgh
  24,702 
  3,879 
 16%


 Elgin
  3,206 
  309 
 10%


 Falkirk
  8,544 
  1,329 
 16%


 Forfar
  2,156 
  224 
 10%


 Fort William
  1,176 
  109 
 9%


 Glasgow
  64,738 
  13,967 
 22%


 Greenock
  5,029 
  724 
 14%


 Haddington
  2,696 
  359 
 13%


 Hamilton
  19,297 
  2,198 
 11%


 Inverness
  6,695 
  705 
 11%


 Jedburgh
  1,728 
  172 
 10%


 Kilmarnock
  10,723 
  1,614 
 15%


 Kirkcaldy
  6,994 
  1,349 
 19%


 Kirkcudbright
  820 
  119 
 15%


 Kirkwall
  452 
  57 
 13%


 Lanark
  3,411 
  201 
 6%


 Lerwick
  544 
  76 
 14%


 Linlithgow
  7,139 
  841 
 12%


 Lochmaddy
  216 
  18 
 8%


 Oban
  1,036 
  132 
 13%


 Paisley
  9,875 
  1,660 
 17%


 Peebles
  310 
  60 
 19%


 Perth
  6,636 
  766 
 12%


 Peterhead
  1,616 
  135 
 8%


 Portree
  417 
  60 
 14%


 Rothesay
  263 
  45 
 17%


 Selkirk
  1,988 
  231 
 12%


 Stirling
  5,711 
  922 
 16%


 Stonehaven
  1,442 
  86 
 6%


 Stornoway
  584 
  52 
 9%


 Stranraer
  1,949 
  276 
 14%


 Tain
  1,461 
  209 
 14%


 Wick
  957 
  123 
 13%


 PFS
  275,803 
  42,516 
 15%



  

 FY 2000-01
 Total Reports Received
 Total - No Proceedings
 No Pro as % of Total


 Aberdeen
  12,704 
  1,188 
 9%


 Airdrie
  9,219 
  1,523 
 17%


 Alloa
  2,300 
  397 
 17%


 Arbroath
  2,748 
  324 
 12%


 Ayr
  8,025 
  923 
 12%


 Banff
  1,626 
  102 
 6%


 Campbeltown
  611 
  69 
 11%


 Cupar
  1,936 
  391 
 20%


 Dingwall
  1,372 
  169 
 12%


 Dornoch
  299 
  43 
 14%


 Dumbarton
  8,611 
  1,538 
 18%


 Dumfries
  6,080 
  787 
 13%


 Dundee
  10,137 
  1,115 
 11%


 Dunfermline
  5,568 
  883 
 16%


 Dunoon
  1,367 
  176 
 13%


 Duns
  1,022 
  74 
 7%


 Edinburgh
  24,839 
  2,804 
 11%


 Elgin
  2,713 
  277 
 10%


 Falkirk
  7,754 
  1,099 
 14%


 Forfar
  1,984 
  259 
 13%


 Fort William
  1,162 
  135 
 12%


 Glasgow
  71,419 
  16,081 
 23%


 Greenock
  5,608 
  792 
 14%


 Haddington
  2,664 
  380 
 14%


 Hamilton
  20,064 
  2,355 
 12%


 Inverness
  5,532 
  776 
 14%


 Jedburgh
  1,728 
  150 
 9%


 Kilmarnock
  10,785 
  1,216 
 11%


 Kirkcaldy
  7,417 
  1,710 
 23%


 Kirkcudbright
  1,164 
  170 
 15%


 Kirkwall
  492 
  71 
 14%


 Lanark
  2,997 
  344 
 11%


 Lerwick
  549 
  60 
 11%


 Linlithgow
  7,098 
  769 
 11%


 Lochmaddy
  192 
  21 
 11%


 Oban
  1,085 
  142 
 13%


 Paisley
  10,789 
  1,586 
 15%


 Peebles
  540 
  65 
 12%


 Perth
  5,894 
  695 
 12%


 Peterhead
  1,936 
  174 
 9%


 Portree
  385 
  51 
 13%


 Rothesay
  254 
  22 
 9%


 Selkirk
  1,961 
  303 
 15%


 Stirling
  5,322 
  943 
 18%


 Stonehaven
  1,509 
  129 
 9%


 Stornoway
  603 
  46 
 8%


 Stranraer
  2,212 
  320 
 14%


 Tain
  1,336 
  181 
 14%


 Wick
  1,021 
  152 
 15%


 PFS
  284,633 
  43,980
 15%



  

 FY 1999-2000
 Total Reports Received
 Total - No Proceedings
 No Pro as % of Total


 Aberdeen
  13,547 
  2,198 
 16%


 Airdrie
  8,466 
  1,319 
 16%


 Alloa
  2,173 
  362 
 17%


 Arbroath
  2,932 
  389 
 13%


 Ayr
  8,975 
  1,009 
 11%


 Banff
  1,777 
  456 
 26%


 Campbeltown
  590 
  76 
 13%


 Cupar
  1,783 
  388 
 22%


 Dingwall
  1,497 
  143 
 10%


 Dornoch
  332 
  39 
 12%


 Dumbarton
  8,064 
  1,275 
 16%


 Dumfries
  6,646 
  806 
 12%


 Dundee
  10,016 
  1,251 
 12%


 Dunfermline
  5,539 
  1,153 
 21%


 Dunoon
  1,152 
  148 
 13%


 Duns
  853 
  56 
 7%


 Edinburgh
  24,121 
  3,386 
 14%


 Elgin
  2,830 
  486 
 17%


 Falkirk
  7,572 
  864 
 11%


 Forfar
  2,483 
  276 
 11%


 Fort William
  1,175 
  109 
 9%


 Glasgow
  71,443 
  13,726 
 19%


 Greenock
  5,902 
  817 
 14%


 Haddington
  2,574 
  347 
 13%


 Hamilton
  19,502 
  2,440 
 13%


 Inverness
  5,877 
  720 
 12%


 Jedburgh
  1,778 
  175 
 10%


 Kilmarnock
  11,270 
  1,451 
 13%


 Kirkcaldy
  6,676 
  1,308 
 20%


 Kirkcudbright
  1,228 
  171 
 14%


 Kirkwall
  567 
  72 
 13%


 Lanark
  3,163 
  346 
 11%


 Lerwick
  636 
  94 
 15%


 Linlithgow
  6,446 
  841 
 13%


 Lochmaddy
  198 
  24 
 12%


 Oban
  1,116 
  184 
 16%


 Paisley
  11,335 
  2,036 
 18%


 Peebles
  459 
  81 
 18%


 Perth
  6,283 
  893 
 14%


 Peterhead
  2,601 
  204 
 8%


 Portree
  298 
  32 
 11%


 Rothesay
  235 
  30 
 13%


 Selkirk
  1,545 
  273 
 18%


 Stirling
  4,423 
  660 
 15%


 Stonehaven
  1,911 
  118 
 6%


 Stornoway
  725 
  34 
 5%


 Stranraer
  2,612 
  446 
 17%


 Tain
  1,350 
  134 
 10%


 Wick
  1,042 
  112 
 11%


 PFS
  285,718 
  43,958 
 15%

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated development value is of land currently used for the Livestock Improvement Scheme administered by the Crofters Commission.

Allan Wilson: In 2003 the full market value of the properties used for the Livestock Improvement Scheme was estimated by professional valuers to be £2,179,000.

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the outcome of the review of the Bull Hire Scheme will be made public.

Allan Wilson: The Bull Hire Scheme was reviewed in 2003 as part of the review of the Livestock Improvement Schemes and the report on that review was made available for public scrutiny on 5 April 2004.

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in respect of the maintenance of a bull hire scheme for crofters.

Allan Wilson: Crofting groups with a bull hire contract which started in 2003 will have a bull under the Bull Hire Scheme for the 2005 breeding season. The Crofters Commission has advised crofting groups who had hires that ended in 2004 that there will be interim arrangements put in place to tide them over until the proposed replacement scheme is ready. Details of these interim arrangements should be available soon.

  We are aiming to have the new cattle improvement scheme ready in time to ensure that eligible crofting groups can apply in good time for support for cattle improvement in the 2006 breeding season. The consultant employed to develop the new scheme has nearly completed that work and the proposals will be discussed with a focus group of experts and representatives of crofting interests next month.

Public Transport

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review legislation in order to require commercial and local authority-contracted bus operators to accept all operators’ tickets.

Nicol Stephen: The Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 already contains the necessary powers, although as yet they have not been used by any local authority.

Renewable Energy

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farm applications have been the subject of appeals to it since 1999 and, of these, how many have been (a) approved and (b) refused.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Since 1999, the Scottish Executive Inquiry Unit has received 12 planning appeals concerning proposed windfarms. Of these, one has been approved (appeal allowed), two have been refused (appeal dismissed), one appeal was withdrawn and the other eight are awaiting determination.

Roads

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with Scotland’s Transport: The Regulation of Utility Company Roadworks: A Consultation , issued in October 2003.

Nicol Stephen: Almost 70 responses were received to this consultation from utility companies, roads authorities and other interested parties. The responses have been independently analysed and have been published on the Scottish Executive website. Proposals for changes to legislation were included in the white paper a copy has been place in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 33072) Scotland’s Transport Future which was published in June.

Roads

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis was carried out on the causes of congestion to inform its conclusion on the extent to which the main cause was utility roadworks rather than normal road maintenance by the Scottish Executive and local authorities.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has examined the findings of previous research as well as a more recent formal consultation on utility roadworks. These highlighted the significant disruption caused by utility company roadworks although clearly there are other significant factors which contribute to traffic congestion.

Roads

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why increasing local authority powers for the regulation of utility roadworks is being considered, given the level of utilisation by local authorities of their powers under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

Nicol Stephen: Increased regulation of utility roadworks is proposed in response to concerns about the existing poor standards of co-ordination and subsequent reinstatement of affected roads in certain cases. These standards need to be improved and that is why the Scottish Executive is giving consideration to strengthening local authority regulatory powers.

Roads

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there would be any potential conflict of interest in granting local authorities powers to apply charges for utility roadworks if the proceeds of such charges are to be used to fund local road maintenance or new works.

Nicol Stephen: Proposals for changes to legislation which were included in the white paper Scotland’s Transport Future  are currently being formulated. Careful consideration will be given to any potential conflict of interest relating to local authority powers.

Roads

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to meet representatives of the utility roadworks industry to discuss the regulation of utility roadworks.

Nicol Stephen: I met with representatives of the utility roadworks industry on 25 May this year to discuss the regulation of their activities. Additionally, my officials are in contact on a regular basis with utility company representatives and their local authority counterparts through the Roads Authorities and Utility Committee (Scotland)(RAUC(S)).

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what roads it has prioritised for upgrading and what plans are in place to carry out such upgrading.

Nicol Stephen: The current programme of major trunk road works underway or planned is set out in the following table. Progress on schemes is subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures, and the availability of finance. In addition, there is a detailed programme of minor works and improvement schemes valued at some £15 million in 2004-05.

  

 Road
 Scheme
 Summary Description
 Estimated Start Date
 Estimated Completion Date
 Notes


 A1
 Thistly Cross to Bowerhouse.
 Construction of new 0.8km dual carriageway
 Under construction
 Q1-2005-06
 Final planned section of dualling of A1


 A68
 Soutra South to Oxton. 
 Improve Southbound overtaking and Oxton junction
 Q1-2006/07
 Q1-2007-08
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A68
 Pathhead to Tynehead Junction. 
 Provide 1.9km of improved overtaking opportunities 
 Q1-2006/07
 Q1-2007-08
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A7
 Auchenrivock. 
 Improvement of 2.3km single carriageway to provide overtaking opportunities
 Q4-2005/06
 Q4-2006-07
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A7
 Glenmayne to Yair. 
 Improvement of 1.7km single carriageway to provide overtaking opportunities
 Q3-2005/06
 Q3-2006-07
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A75
 Cairntop to Barlae. 

 2.2km Overtaking scheme
 Q4-2005/06
 Q3-2006-07
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A75
 Newton Stewart 
 To provide guaranteed westbound overtaking on existing incline.
 Q2-2005/06
 Q4-2005-06
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A75
 Barfill to Bettyknowes. 
 Provision of overtaking opportunities over 1.2km section. 
 Q1-2005/06
 Q1-2006-07
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A75
 Planting End to Drumflower 
 Provision of 1.5km overtaking opportunities.
 Q2-2005/06
 Q4-2005-06
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A75
 Dunragit Re-alignment. 
 Rail bridge replacement and provision of 3km of overtaking opportunities.
 Oct 2006
 Dec 2007
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A75
 Hardgrove to Kinmount. 
 Provision of 4km of safer overtaking opportunities 
 Nov 2006
 Nov 2007
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A76
 Gateside (2) 
 Study to identify a 2km section of A76 North Sanquhar for overtaking section.
 Study under way
 
 


 A76
 Glenairlie. 
 Provision of a 2km climbing lane.
 Q4-2005/06
 Q4-2006-07
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A77
 Maybole Bypass 
 Appraisal to identify solutions to transport problems on the A77 through Maybole.
 Public consultation under way
 
 Consultant appointed 


 A77
 Park End to Bennane WS2
 Provision of overtaking opportunity.
 Q4-2005/06
 tba
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A77
 Haggstone Climbing Lane. 
 Provision of northbound climbing lane.
 Q3-2005/06
 tba
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A77
 Glen App WS2+1. 
 Provision of overtaking opportunity. 
 Q1-2006/07
 tba
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A77
 Drummuckloch to Innermessan. 
 Provision of overtaking opportunity. 
 Q4-2005/06
 tba
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A77
 Ardwell to Slockenray WS2. 
 Provision of overtaking opportunity. 
 Q1-2006/07
 tba
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A77 
 Symington and Bog End Toll 
 Junction improvements 
 tba
 tba
 Public exhibition of revised proposals held


 A78
 3 Towns Bypass (Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson). 
 5km of 2-lane dual carriageway road and 1.4km of single carriageway road with climbing lane. Roundabouts at each end to connect the bypass with existing trunk road, and two intermediate junctions with local roads. 
 Under construction
 Dec 2004
 


 A80
 Auchenkilns Junction

 Grade separated interchange on the A80.
 Under construction
 Sep 2005
 


 A80
 Allandale Park and Ride
 Feasibility study report
 In preparation
 Nov 2004
 Study only 


 A82
 Route Action Plan Study. 
 Production of a strategy for improving operation and safety over this 154km route
 Traffic surveys and consultation under way
 
 Study report Q3 2005-06


 A830
 Arisaig to Loch Nan Uamh.
 Upgrade of 7km of single track road on A830 strategic route
 Q1-2005/06
 tba
 Draft Orders published 


 A876
 Kincardine Eastern Link Road. 
 Construction 2km of new wide single carriageway Eastern Link road to remove traffic from Kincardine village.
 5/2003
 3-2005 (includes landscaping)
 Road opened 5 July 2004 - 6 months ahead of schedule


 A876
 Kincardine Bridge. 
 Construction of 8.1 km access roads and new bridge upstream of existing crossing, plus refurbishment of existing bridge structure.
 Q4-2005/06
 Q2-2008-09
 Draft orders published - public local inquiry Q3-2004-05


 A9
 Route Improvement Strategy. 
 Consider need to upgrade 35 km sections of A9 north of Perth. 
 Study in preparation
 
 


 A9
 Ballinluig Junction

 Construction of a grade separated junction to improve road safety.
 Q4-2005/06
 Q2-2007-08
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A9
 Helmsdale to Ord of Caithness - Phase 2

 1.8km Road upgrading scheme to remove poor geometry and narrow widths of existing road. 

 Q3-2005/06
 tba
 Road Orders made


 A9
 Crubenmore Extension. 
 1.9km Extension of existing short length of dual carriageway. 
 tba
 tba
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A9
 Kincraig to Dalraddy 
 Provision of guaranteed overtaking opportunities over 4km
 tba
 tba
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A90
 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. 
 To provide a 29km bypass to Aberdeen
 Oct 2007
 Oct 2010
 Scheme in preparation. Draft orders to be published 2005


 A90
 Glendoick.
 4th Grade separated interchange on the A90 trunk road between Perth and Dundee to improve road safety
 Q3-2005/06
 Q3-2006-07
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A90
 Kinfauns.
 Last grade separated interchange on the A90 trunk road between Perth and Dundee
 Q3-2005/06
 Q3-2006-07
 Consultant appointed - In preparation


 A90
 Balmeddie - Tipperty
 Multimodal appraisal of the single carriageway section of the A90
 Q1-2002/03
 Q2-2004-05
 Study report


 A96
 Threapland. 
 0.75km Junction improvement and re-alignment to improve visibility.
 tba
 tba
 Early preparation


 A96
 Dalnies 
 Provision of 1.1km guaranteed overtaking opportunities (WS2+1).
 tba
 tba
 Early preparation


 A96
 Coachford Climbing Lane. 

 2.4 km climbing lane to provide overtaking opportunities and improve safety and level of service on route.
 Q3-2004/05
 Q4-2005-06
 Tenders received - under consideration


 A96
 Fochabers and Mosstodloch
 Construction of 5km wide single carriageway to bypass the settlements of Fochabers and Mosstodloch. Side road connections are proposed at roundabouts for Mosstodloch/Baxters, Fochabers/Spey Bay, and the A98. A separate cyclepath/footpath would be provided linking Fochabers and Mosstodloch.
 Q1-2006/07
 tba
 Public Local Inquiry held Sep 2003


 A985
 Route Action Plan. 
 Consider need for improvements to 19km route.
 Study under way
 
 Study report Q3 2005-06


 M74
 M74 Completion 
 Provision of strategic link between existing M74 and M8 to remove congestion on national network through Glasgow. Involves construction of 8.0km of 3 lane carriageway with hard shoulder and 4 key junctions.
 Early 2006
 Late 2008
 Scheme in partnership with Glasgow City, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Councils. Public Local Inquiry concluded March 2004 - report awaited.


 M74/
  A725
 Raith Interchange 
 Junction improvement
 
 
 Early preparation


 M77
 Malletsheugh to Fenwick. 
 Construction of 15.2km dual carriageway extension of motorway between Glasgow and Kilmarnock to improve road safety and remove congestion.
 Under construction
 Mar 2005
 


 M8
 Baillieston to Newhouse and associated improvements

 Upgrade to motorway standard of overloaded section of the A8 and associated junctions
 Q3-2007/08
 Q1-2010-11
 Early consultations held


 M80
 Stepps-Haggs (Phase 1) M73-Low Wood. 
 4km On-line upgrade 
 Q4-2006/07
 Q2-2008-09
 Orders published. Public Inquiry to be considered


 M80
 Stepps-Haggs (Phase 2) Auchenkilns to Haggs. 
 8km On-line upgrade from D2AP to D2M
 Q2-2008/09
 Q2-2010-11
 To follow Phase 1


 M80
 Stepps-Haggs (Phase 3) Moodiesburn Bypass. 
 6km Off line new construction D2M
 Q4-2006/07
 Q2-2008-09
 To follow Phase 1



  Notes:

  Tba - To be announced.

  WS2+1 - Wide single carriageway comprising one lane in each direction with a third, middle overtaking lane.

Roads

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9477 by Nicol Stephen on 2 August 2004, whether it has made specific representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the prohibition of the adaptation of vehicle exhausts that are to be used on public highways.

Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-9477 on 2 August 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport has received a written invitation dated 10 August 2004 inviting him to visit the A96 to view traffic conditions on that road; if so, whether the minister will accept that invitation, on what date and time the visit will take place and whether the minister will agree to speak at public meetings in Inverness and Nairn in order to communicate the Executive’s policy on the A96, in particular regarding the rejection of the case for upgrading of the road.

Nicol Stephen: I have received and accepted an invitation from the Inverness and Nairn Local Economic Forum to visit the A96. The details have still to be arranged.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has allocated, and will allocate, to each local authority for the next three years to address any backlogs in road maintenance.

Nicol Stephen: Funding for roads is provided, primarily, through the local government finance settlement. The total roads maintenance allocation for 2004-05 is some £152 million and for 2005-06 some £158 million. In addition, the Executive provided extra revenue funding to councils over 2002 and 2003, totalling £62.5 million, to help address the backlog of repairs and improvements on local roads and bridges as follows:

  

 Local Authority
 February 2002
 June 2002
 January 2003
 Total


 Aberdeen City
 £590,000 
 £750,000 
 £442,462 
 £1,782,462 


 Aberdeenshire
 £1,504,000 
 £573,000 
 £1,128,250 
 £3,205,250 


 Angus
 £516,000 
 £522,000 
 £387,169 
 £1,425,169 


 Argyll and Bute
 £717,000 
 £1,207,000 
 £537,816 
 £2,461,816 


 Clackmannanshire
 £158,000 
 £75,000 
 £118,705 
 £351,705 


 Dumfries and Galloway
 £1,051,000 
 
 £788,308 
 £1,839,308 


 Dundee City
 £329,000 
 
 £246,487 
 £575,487 


 East Ayrshire
 £414,000 
 £402,000 
 £310,281 
 £1,126,281 


 East Dunbartonshire
 £338,000 
 £940,000 
 £253,156 
 £1,531,156 


 East Lothian
 £333,000 
 £844,000 
 £249,440 
 £1,426,440 


 East Renfrewshire
 £277,000 
 £729,000 
 £207,812 
 £1,213,812 


 Edinburgh, City Of
 £1,300,000 
 £1,900,000 
 £974,694 
 £4,174,694 


 Eilean Siar
 £366,000 
  
 £274,551 
 £640,551 


 Falkirk
 £455,000 
 £70,000 
 £341,296 
 £866,296 


 Fife
 £1,159,000 
 £750,000 
 £869,255 
 £2,778,255 


 Glasgow City
 £1,255,000 
 £8,300,000 
 £941,510 
 £10,496,510 


 Highland
 £1,790,000 
 £1,210,700 
 £1,342,964 
 £4,343,664 


 Inverclyde
 £193,000 
 £408,000 
 £145,061 
 £746,061 


 Midlothian
 £291,000 
 £470,000 
 £218,189 
 £979,189 


 Moray
 £466,000 
 £552,000 
 £349,251 
 £1,367,251 


 North Ayrshire
 £422,000 
 £524,000 
 £316,457 
 £1,262,457 


 North Lanarkshire
 £799,000 
 £2,420,000 
 £599,269 
 £3,818,269 


 Orkney Islands
 £235,000 
  
 £176,079 
 £411,079 


 Perth and Kinross
 £739,000 
 £725,000 
 £554,317 
 £2,018,317 


 Renfrewshire
 £476,000 
 £978,440 
 £357,148 
 £1,811,588 


 Scottish Borders
 £760,000 
 £70,000 
 £570,324 
 £1,400,324 


 Shetland Islands
 £239,000 
 £600,000 
 £178,893 
 £1,017,893 


 South Ayrshire
 £431,000 
 £2,230,000 
 £323,296 
 £2,984,296 


 South Lanarkshire
 £959,000 
 £207,000 
 £719,380 
 £1,885,380 


 Stirling
 £656,000 
  
 £492,076 
 £1,148,076 


 West Dunbartonshire
 £221,000 
 £100,000 
 £165,463 
 £486,463 


 West Lothian
 £561,000 
  
 £420,641 
 £981,641 


 Total
 £20,000,000 
 £27,557,140 
 £15,000,000 
 £62,557,140 



  Future allocations will be announced following our decisions on Spending Review 2004.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the findings of the M74 public local inquiry.

Nicol Stephen: The full report of the public local inquiry has recently been received from the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit. The reporter’s findings are now being assessed and every effort will be made to reach an early decision on the M74 proposals.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to monitor the impact on health of the proposed M74 northern extension in relation to recent research that indicates that up to a sixth of cot deaths may be directly attributable to vehicle exhaust fumes.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to monitor the impact on health of the proposed M74 northern extension in relation to Asthma UK’s estimate that 3.5 million asthma sufferers in the United Kingdom state that traffic pollution aggravates their condition.

Nicol Stephen: Vehicle emissions will be monitored following completion of the M74 to measure the impact of the new motorway on air quality.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the statement issued by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on 28 July 2004 regarding the financial package for SNH staff approved by the Executive, what the phrase "with some added options to leave early" means and what the estimated cost is of such options.

Allan Wilson: Management of the relocation project including all staff issues is an operational matter for SNH. On the question of costs, I refer the member to question S2W-9850 answered on 13 September 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search.wa.

Scottish Water

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish Water ensures that fish stocks in its reservoirs are kept at healthy levels.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water.

Transport

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is for the development of hydrogen as a transport fuel and what steps are being taken to ensure that Scotland is in the forefront of the development of hydrogen-related technologies and applications.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive fully supports the UK Government strategy to promote the development, introduction and take up of alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ensure that the UK automotive industry is involved in the new hydrogen technologies. The UK’s Powering Future Vehicles Strategy was published in July 2002. I am on the Ministerial Low Carbon Group which monitors the progress of this strategy and ensure that Scotland is involved in the development of new technologies such as hydrogen powered vehicles. The group’s first annual report was published in October 2003 and is available at:

  http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/page/dft_roads_024731.pdf.

  You may also wish to know that as a result of the commitment in the 2003 Energy White Paper, the UK Government has recently published its assessment of the implications of the large scale use of both renewable hydrogen and biofuels in the transport sector; a full copy of the report Liquid Biofuels and Renewable Hydrogen to 2050 can be found at:

  http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/h2bioassessment.pdf.

  As part of its commitment to renewable energy, the Executive’s Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) has set up a sub-group to report on the development of hydrogen technologies in Scotland. This report is scheduled for publication early in 2005.

Water Services

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of water was lost due to leakages before it reached the consumer in each of the last five years.

Ross Finnie: Figures for leakage from the public network by the three previous water authorities are available in Parliament’s Information Centre in the publications, Public Water Supplies in Scotland, Water Resources Survey , available in Parliament’s Reference Centre. The Bib. number for the 1999-2000 report is 133372, for the 2000-2001 report is 33865 and for the 2001-2002 report is 33866. Scottish Water are due to publish the figures for 2002-03 and 2003-04 in forthcoming Water Resource reports.

Water Services

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much sewage sludge has been produced in Scotland, on average, in each of the last five years from sewage processors (a) within and (b) outwith Scotland.

Ross Finnie: Precise information on the amount of sewage sludge produced in Scotland is not held centrally. This is a matter for the operators concerned (principally Scottish Water). "Sewage sludge" is simply a term for a product of waste water treatment. No sewage sludge, therefore, is produced in Scotland by treatment outwith Scotland, though it is possible that sewage sludge produced outwith Scotland may be subjected to further treatment within Scotland. Again, this would be a matter for operators of sludge treatment facilities.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Opening Ceremony

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it will involve MSPs’ staff in the official opening of Holyrood on 9 October 2004.

George Reid: Members’ staff were asked to put their names forward for ushers/escorts at the Opening Ceremony. As with SPCB staff, members' staff will be assigned to the various usher/escort tasks currently being compiled. These include greeting and co-ordinating "Riding" guests, assisting guests with access needs, escorting VIPs, seating Parliament Hall and Chamber guests and assisting groups of performers.

Parliamentary Expenditure

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much the installation of television sets for MSPs has cost and how much has been saved by the reconfiguration of these televisions to restrict access to some channels.

George Reid: The cost of the installation of the 385, various sized television sets and plasma screens, across the Parliament building complex, amounts to £20,925 excluding VAT.

  Parliament will also pay £135,716 per annum to Telewest for the provision and maintenance of the multi-channel TV service to these monitors, including the rental of the required set top boxes. This Telewest service provides each set top box monitor with access to 12 parliamentary channels and 37 external TV and radio channels. Seven additional TV channels were initially offered by Telewest as part of its package of external channels – Bid Up TV, Screenshop, Best Direct, Simply Shopping, the Racing Channel, QVC and the Travel Shop. These channels Parliament declined to carry. No money was saved nor was any money spent in excluding these channels.